Peter Ashford

Partner

Peter is a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution department. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the litigation, arbitration and mediation processes across a broad range of commercial disputes, but is a specialist in international arbitration.

He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the author of the Handbook on International Commercial Arbitration published by Juris Publishing of New York in 2014. The second edition is available here. He has also written a Guide to the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration published by Cambridge University Press in early 2013 and available here.

Peter has been appointed by the President of the Law Society as arbitrator and is also recognised in the third edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for Litigation.

Peter graduated in law and economics in 1983, trained in London and qualified in 1986. He joined Cripps Harries Hall LLP in 1987, became a partner in 1991 and joined Fox Williams as a partner in 2012.

'Peter Ashford is a notable arbitration practitioner. He is known as a "top-notch" lawyer who "works very hard for clients."'(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Peter Ashford specialises in international arbitration and is "exceptionally good"’.(Legal 500, 2012)

'Peter Ashford is praised as a lawyer who"really manages the process very carefully."He is highly regarded by sources as one of the … leading experts in commercial dispute resolution.' (Chambers UK, 2011)

Emma Bailey

Partner

She has had extensive experience advising on a broad range of direct and indirect tax matters, including in the context of public and private UK and cross border M&A and private equity transactions, public listings and offerings, corporate re-organisations and restructurings, inward and outbound investment, property and other financings and tax structured financial products.

Emma has a specialism in employee share schemes (approved and unapproved) and management incentive arrangements (including in the context of carried interest structures) and is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group and on the Tax and Share Schemes Committees of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA).

She also has considerable experience advising on tax issues affecting entrepreneurs, investors and business owners (including venture capital tax schemes) and works closely with Fox Williams’ professional practices and employment groups in relation to the tax issues arising in the context of partnerships and LLPs and the remuneration of employees, directors and partners.

Emma advises UK and overseas clients including listed companies, mid-tier corporates, owner-managed businesses, partnerships and LLPs and individuals in a wide range of business sectors including travel and leisure, real estate, banking, financial services, technology and digital and fashion.

Emma has contributed to a number of tax publications, including PLC Tax, Tolleys Tax Planning, and Xpert HR and is a regular speaker at seminars and conferences.

Emma graduated from Keble College, Oxford with an honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and joined Fox Williams as a partner from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in March 2010.

Sian Barr

Associate

Sian is a member of the firm's Commerce & Technology department. She deals with a range of intellectual property, commercial, data protection and competition law matters, in both a contentious and non-contentious setting but with a particular focus on intellectual property law. Sian is a member of the Fashion Law group, which specialises in assisting clients in the fashion industry.

Sian graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2003 with an honours degree in English and French Laws with French. She spent a year in France and gained a Licence in French Law from the University of Bordeaux IV. Sian completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law Chester. She went on to qualify as a solicitor at Wragge & Co in 2007, having completed her training there. After qualifying, Sian obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from the University of Bristol in 2008 and joined Fox Williams as an associate in 2009.

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Simon Bennett

Partner

Simon specialises in advising clients on their Intellectual Property rights ranging from patents, trade marks and passing off to copyright and designs and breach of confidence in sectors including fashion, new media, financial services, IT and oil and gas. He is experienced in many types of dispute resolution including arbitration, mediation, High Court, Court of Appeal, Copyright Tribunal, Trade Marks Registry and European Patent Office. In addition, he has extensive experience advising clients in relation to their IP rights, including the drafting of commercial agreements relating to these rights. He has also advised clients on their IP portfolios and strategies to further enhance and protect existing rights.

He has a reputation for advising clients on the protection of their rights in the fashion industry and had an infringer sentenced to prison for one year on behalf of a major high street clothing retailer.

Simon is recommended by The Legal 500 directory for his IP specialist expertise in intellectual property and brand management.

Simon has written and spoken widely on intellectual property. His articles have been published in Trademark World, World Trademark Review, Computer and Internet Lawyer, Copyright World, IPLaw 360 and The European Lawyer, among other publications. He has lectured on the subject of the protection of intellectual property at The Central European University in Budapest and to Chinese government officials in Beijing, China as part of a joint WTO and EU initiative. He is also co-author of “A User’s Guide to Designs”, published in March 2010 by Bloomsbury Professional.

He is a regular commentator in the media, having been quoted in the Times and Financial Times on IP issues, and he has appeared on ITN News commenting on trade mark protection for the Metropolitan Police. His claim to fame is appearing on BBC 4 in conjunction with an exhibition of artwork at the ICA where a confidentiality agreement he drafted was displayed in the place of a piece of artwork that the artist would not allow to be displayed for confidentiality reasons.

Simon is a member of the Design Rights Sub-committee of the International Trademark Association and has organised and spoken at seminars on designs particularly in the fashion industry.

Simon Bennett is ranked in The World's Leading Trademark Review 2014, a list of leading trademark professionals.

'Simon Bennett is a highly esteemed IP law expert with a specialism in trade mark and mark and design matters, contentious and commercial. He impresses sources with his expertise and experience.' (Chambers UK, 2015)

'Head of IP at Fox Williams Simon Bennett operates across the trademark spectrum; he is “a consummate professional who is also pragmatic and wise”.'(The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review, 2015)

Veronique Bergau

Trainee Solicitor

Veronique is a trainee solicitor at Fox Williams LLP and is currently sitting in the Dispute Resolution department, having previously sat in Commercial and Technology.

Veronique graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with an honours degree in Law. She has worked as a paralegal at a London law firm before commencing her Training Contract with the firm in September 2014.

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Janina Blossfeldt

Associate

Janina joined Fox Williams LLP as a paralegal in 2011 and commenced her training contract in September 2012. Janina qualified into the dispute resolution team in September 2014, where she now practices as an associate.

Janina’s experience includes litigation and arbitration (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and she has particular experience of partnership disputes.

Janina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2008, with an honours degree in Law and German after spending her third year of University studying in Münster, Germany. Janina spent a year working as a paralegal at a Norwich firm before completing the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School in 2011.

James has been instructed over the last 15 years in a number of the largest and most complex white collar investigations and prosecutions brought by the UK Prosecuting Authorities, including the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, Revenue and Customs, the Office of Fair Trading and the Crown Prosecution Service, relating to amongst others allegations of fraud, money laundering, insider dealing, market abuse, cheating the Revenue, MTIC, anti-competitive practices, corruption and false accounting.

James has considerable experience in the conduct of Corporate Manslaughter and Health and Safety investigations and prosecutions for both corporates and individuals following workplace deaths and serious accident.

James also has great expertise in the conduct of both Public Inquiries and Inquests. He has been instructed by interested parties and core witnesses in a large number of the most high profile Public Inquiries including amongst others BSE, the Marchioness and Victoria Climbie. In relation specifically to Inquests, he has gained enormous experience over the years and has recently acted on behalf of the largest victim's family group in the 7/7 London Bombings Inquest. He has also recently acted on behalf of clients in relation to both the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press and the Pollard Review commissioned by the BBC relating to allegations of sexual abuse by the late Jimmy Savile.

James has also developed a significant specialist knowledge in all aspects of Professional Regulation and Discipline, including issues of probity and fitness to practice, representing amongst others Solicitors and Barristers, Accountants, those in the Financial Services sector and Healthcare professionals facing investigation and disciplinary proceedings.

James is a member of ARDL, HSLA, BAFS, LCCSA and POCLA. He is a regular speaker and contributor to internal and external publications on matters of public interest in relation to Business Crime, Corporate Regulation and Professional Regulation and Discipline.

After reading Law at University and finals at the College of Law in Guildford, James Carlton trained with Simmons and Simmons. He went onto become a Partner at Russell Jones and Walker for a number of years before joining Fox Williams in 2012.

James is listed as a Super Lawyer for Fraud, Financial and Investment Services: Business, Criminal Law by Thomson Reuters (2014 edition).

'James Carlton is viewed as "a very solid fraud solicitor" who has extensive experience in the area and is "very effective."(Chambers UK, 2015)

'James Carlton is also recommended as a result of his "excellent judgement and reassuring manner"'.(Legal 500, 2014)

'Head of department James Carlton at Fox Williams LLP is "very popular with clients"'.(Legal 500, 2014)

Joanna Chatterton

Partner

Joanna is a Partner in the employment department. She undertakes both contentious and non contentious work for employers including dealing with discrimination and whistleblowing allegations, handling dismissals and grievances, advising on employment contracts and handbooks and TUPE. She has developed a particular interest in supporting human resources professionals in dealing with complex employee issues often involving sensitive reputational and regulatory concerns and ill-health. She has strong connections with a large number of senior executives whom she has advised on job moves, handling grievances and bringing tribunal claims and the potential constraints imposed by restrictive covenants.

Many of Joanna's client's are in the financial services, banking, professional and legal services and insurance sectors however she is also a member of the firm's fashionlaw team.

Joanna oversees www.hrlaw.co.uk (an invaluable online information source for HR Professionals and in-house counsel). She has been quoted in the press on topical employment issues, she has lectured widely and provides practical training to clients on a wide variety of topics, for example, TUPE and outsourcing and managing diversity in the workplace. She has also written articles on a wide range of employment law topics.

Joanna qualified in March 1997 having trained with Herbert Smith. She joined Fox Williams in 1998, becoming a partner in 2006. She is listed in The Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession directory as a Leading Individual and in the Legal 500 and as Super Lawyer for Employment Law by Thomson Reuters (2014 edition).

'Joanna Chatterton is "extremely easy to work with" and noted for "giving good advice and explaining things in a pragmatic, non-legalistic way"(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Joanna Chatterton is said to operate a "very client-focused" practice and is deemed a "thoroughly professional practitioner."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

Wendy Chung

Associate

Wendy is an associate in the Professional Practices Group and advises both professional practices and individual partners on a range of matters including:

partner exits and team moves

partnership disputes and settlements

LLP conversions

ABS applications

establishing partnerships in the UK

partnership mergers and acquisitions

Wendy graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Law and gained a distinction in her legal practice course at the College of Law. Prior to joining Fox Williams in March 2013, Wendy trained at Allen & Overy LLP (including a secondment to Heathrow Airport) and worked as an associate in the firm's Corporate and Private Equity department.

Wendy is also a member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

Richie Clark

Partner

Richie heads up the firm’s corporate department and is a partner in our capital markets and M&A groups.

Richie advises entrepreneurs, companies and financial institutions on a broad range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, listings, financings, public takeovers and is a specialist in corporate governance, shareholder engagement and activist investor situations. He advises clients in a variety of industry sectors including technology, FinTech, natural resources and financial services and has particular expertise in understanding the issues facing international companies entering the UK market to seek funding or make acquisitions.

As well as being a long-time director of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce, Richie writes for numerous international business publications, has spoken at professional conferences and has been quoted in the press on topics related to UK public markets and corporate governance issues. Richie is also a member of the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Expert Committee and the AIPN.

Prior to joining Fox Williams, Richie was a partner at McCarthy Tétrault which he joined in 2001, after spending several years at Ashurst.

Richie received a first class B.A. with distinction from Mount Allison University in 1991 and an M.A. from Carleton University in 1992. He received his LLB from Dalhousie University in 1995 and was called to the bar in Alberta in 1996. Richie moved to the UK in 1997 and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1998.

'Richie Clark is highly esteemed by clients.'(Chambers UK, 2015)

"He has a great ability to communicate effectively, interacting and explaining complex situations in a clear manner. He acts like a member of our team in creating solutions to any situation to our company's interest"(Chambers UK, 2015)

Anna Clinton

Associate

Anna advises employers and senior employees on the full range of employment and business immigration matters. She has experience of employment law and practice in the UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific, having worked in London and Hong Kong. Anna has particular experience of advising clients on contentious dismissals, global restructuring, high court and employment tribunal litigation, performance management, discrimination and whistleblowing. In terms of immigration work, Anna advises businesses on the lawful employment of foreign nationals, including applications for and compliance with sponsor licences. Anna is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and also contributes to Fox Williams’ interactive employment law service, www.hrlaw.co.uk.

Anna studied law at Cambridge University, graduating in 2003, and completed her LPC at Nottingham Law School in 2004. As well as working in private practice, she has also worked in-house (for Goldman Sachs and CMC Markets). Anna joined Fox Williams as an Employment Associate in October 2014.

Rachel Cook

Associate

Rachel received her law degree from Durham University and qualified into Dispute Resolution in September 2007 having trained at Fox Williams.

Rachel has handled a broad range of general commercial disputes. In particular, she has experience in all types of intellectual property disputes, including design rights, trade marks, copyright and passing off.

Her past work includes:

Achieved a settlement for the brand Superdry against Primark, who had been accused of copying Superdry’s Brad Jacket

Achieved a settlement for the brand Superdry against the streetwear retailer Fenchurch, who had been accused of copying one of Superdry’s jacket designs

Achieved a settlement against Arcadia Group, who had been accused of copying a client’s designs

Acted successfully for Trinity Mobile (a mobile phone ticket provider) in defending an action for patent infringement to the extent that the Claimant withdrew its Claim

Successfully acted for a client who had been accused of design right infringement which led to the complaint being dropped

Acted for the Swedish telecommunications company, Tele2 in its litigation against the Post Office in the High Court and Court of Appeal

Getting a Default Judgment set aside on behalf of a Canadian based company which subsequently led to a favourable settlement of the Claim being made against it

Obtaining favourable settlements at mediation on behalf of several commercial agents who were claiming compensation following their termination

Rachel is a member of Fox Williams’ Agentlaw and Fashionlaw groups. She has given seminars and talks on a variety of issues arising in these areas, including in-house training. Rachel is also a member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association. Rachel is listed as a Rising Star for Intellectual Property Law, Commercial Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2014 edition).

Elliot Cowan

Associate

Elliot is an associate in the Corporate Department advising on a broad range of general corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity, for both domestic and international corporates. Elliot also has experience in joint ventures, public fundraisings, corporate reorganisations and investments in private companies. He advises a wide range of clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals across various sectors, including natural resources and financial services.

Elliot graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Politics and Parliamentary Studies, and completed his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP. Prior to joining Fox Williams, Elliot trained at Herbert Smith Freehills and worked

as an associate in the firElliot is an associate in the Corporate Department advising on a broad range of general corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity, for both domestic and international corporates. Elliot also has experience in joint ventures, public fundraisings, corporate reorganisations and investments in private companies. He advises a wide range of clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals across various sectors, including natural resources and financial services. Elliot is an associate in the Corporate Department advising on a broad range of general corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity, for both domestic and international corporates. Elliot also has experience in joint ventures, public fundraisings, corporate reorganisations and investments in private companies. He advises a wide range of clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals across various sectors, including natural resources and financial services.

Elliot graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Politics and Parliamentary Studies, and completed his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP. Prior to joining Fox Williams, Elliot trained at Herbert Smith Freehills and worked as an associate in the firm's corporate department.

Tom Custance

Partner

Tom is a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution department. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the litigation, arbitration and mediation processes across a broad range of commercial disputes, primarily in the financial services sector. Much of this has been in the insurance field, where Tom has acted in several substantial policy coverage disputes, as well as advising on policy wording issues. Another particular area of expertise is employment-related disputes, where Tom has acted in many high profile cases, including team moves, bonus disputes and claims involving the enforcement of restrictive covenants and confidentiality obligations.

"Tom Custance achieved a judgment of £11m for former Société Générale managing director Raphael Geys in his high profile case against the bank" (Legal 500); "Tom Custance deserves particular mention for high-level instructions such as acting for Belgian investment group IFE against Goldman Sachs International" (Legal 500).

As a solicitor advocate, Tom undertakes regular court work. He appeared at the Southall and Ladbroke Grove Rail Accident Public Inquiries as advocate for one of the parties.

Tom has been frequently quoted in both the national and legal press, and has appeared on CNBC News and BBC2's Working Lunch.

Tom joined Fox Williams in 2001 and headed up the litigation and dispute resolution department from 2001 to 2011. Tom was previously a partner with Herbert Smith. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1989 having graduated from Bristol University with an honours degree in classics in 1985. He subsequently qualified as a solicitor advocate (higher courts civil) in 1997. Tom is a member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates and the London Solicitors Litigation Association, and is a Freeman of the City of London Solicitors Company.

Rebecca Davidson

Senior Associate

Rebecca is a Senior Associate in the Employment law department. She regularly advises both employers and employees on a wide range of employment law and HR issues. She has a wide range of clients including law firms, insurance brokers, banks and private equity investors across the UK and internationally, but with a particular focus on the City. Rebecca also acts for senior executives such as CEOs, managing directors, traders and senior managers.

Rebecca regularly advises clients on every stage of employment and HR issues, from recruitment through to grievances and dismissals, team moves and enforcing restrictive covenants. Rebecca spent six months on secondment to Aon Limited where she worked as an in-house employment adviser to their HR team.

Rebecca has a particular interest in Tribunal litigation, and has both brought and defended numerous claims in the Tribunals for unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, age, disability and sexual orientation. She also has considerable experience in advising on team moves and bonus disputes in the High Court.

Rebecca is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association and regularly contributes to Fox Williams’ interactive employment law service www.hrlaw.co.uk. She has had articles published in a number of legal publications including the Employment Law Journal and regularly speaks at client and other seminars, as well as providing training on issues such as diversity,and handling disciplinary procedures for problematic employees.

Matthew Davies

Partner

Matthew heads up Fox Williams Business Immigration practice. He qualified as a solicitor in the City in 1997, practising general employment law before specialising in immigration and nationality work.

Matthew has expertise in all aspects of UK business and employment-related immigration, including advice to employers as to potential liability for illegal employment of foreign nationals. He also represents private individuals and business people in relation to UK immigration and nationality matters.

The 2012 and 2013 editions of The Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories recommend Matthew as a leading individual, and rank Fox Williams as a leading firm for business immigration.

Matthew is a member of the Economic Migration sub-committee of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association and speaks and writes regularly on immigration issues affecting employers and business people.

Matthew Davies is 'praised for his knowledge and experience.' (Chambers UK, 2015)

'Peers rate Matthew Davies of Fox Williams LLP for his work on corporate immigration. Clients value his experience and ability to build great relationships.'(Chambers UK, 2014)

'Matthew Davies "has a tremendous knowledge of new developments, and is able to figure out complex situations"'(Chambers UK, 2013)

Charlotte Eliasson

Associate

Charlotte is an associate at Fox Williams LLP in the Corporate department and has recently completed her training contract.

Charlotte graduated from the University of Warwick in 2008, with an honours degree in Law and Business. She gained a LLM in International Economic Law, also from the University of Warwick, in 2009. Charlotte spent a year working as a paralegal at a West London firm before completing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in 2011. She worked as an adjudicator at the Financial Ombudsman Service prior to joining Fox Williams.

Mary Elliott

Associate

Mary is an associate in the corporate department with a particular focus on international and domestic M&A and venture/development capital investments and start-ups. She regularly handles matters such as UK and cross-border acquisitions, disposals and mergers for both publicly listed and private companies, and development investment as well as general corporate advisory work for private and AIM-listed companies.

Mary advises a variety of clients ranging from multinationals to entrepreneurs, across a broad spectrum of business sectors, including media & publishing, technology & digital, travel & leisure and pharma/biotech/life sciences. Mary is the lead associate in the firm’s Publishing and Media practice.

Before joining Fox Williams in 2012, Mary was an associate in the London office of Allen & Overy during which time she was seconded to RSA Insurance Group plc (2011) and to the Allen & Overy projects team in Paris (2009). Mary graduated from the University of St Andrews with a first class degree in History in 2006 and gained distinctions in both her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course.

Deloris Evans

Business Support

Deloris is a member of the firm's Corporate department. She advises on and undertakes the administration of company secretarial matters. Deloris qualified, in 2006, as an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), the international qualifying and Membership body for the Chartered Secretary profession and a recognised authority on corporate governance and compliance.

She is a member of The Chartered Secretaries' Professional Practice Group (CSPPG), a grouping of ICSA members and students who provide company secretarial services. This group provides a forum for its members whereby they can meet, exchange ideas and promote the interests of their profession.

Prior to joining Fox Williams LLP, Deloris gained experience in the international development sector and the retail banking sector.

Rebecca Evans

Associate

Rebecca joined Fox Williams in 2006 as a trainee and qualified as an associate in the real estate department in 2008. She advises on a broad range of commercial property matters including property management, commercial leasing and general landlord and tenant issues.

Rebecca graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London, in 2004 with a degree in Psychology. She then completed the GDL and LPC at BPP Law School in London.

Peter Faber

Partner

Peter is a partner in our corporate department, where his particular focus is international and domestic M&A. He has extensive experience in UK and cross-border acquisitions, disposals and mergers (for both publicly listed and private companies), public share offerings and financings, corporate reconstructions and joint ventures, as well as private equity and venture/development capital investments (representing, variously, investors, management teams, debt providers and sellers). He advises clients (ranging from multi-nationals through private corporates and investment houses to management teams and start-ups) in a wide range of business sectors, including media/publishing, travel and leisure, pharma/biotech/life sciences and financial services. Peter leads the firm’s Publishing and Media and Travel practices.

Before joining Fox Williams in 2010, Peter was a partner for ten years in the London office of the international law firm, Jones Day; before that, he was a partner for many years at Simmons & Simmons. He is co-author of "M&A Strategies for the UK", published in 2007 by Aspatore Books, Boston, USA; he is recognised as a Leading Lawyer in M&A by Legal Experts 2010 and Legal Business, he is a Recommended M&A Lawyer in Legal 500 (2011) and is recognised as a Leading Lawyer in M&A in the 2012 Mergers & Acquisitions Guidebook published by PLC. Peter has an Honours Degree in Modern History from Oxford University. He qualified as a Solicitor in 1974.

Helen Farr

Partner

Helen is a partner in the firm’s employment group. Her practice covers the full spectrum of employment law and human resources strategy.

Helen has a broad client base with particular expertise within the financial and professional services sectors. She focuses largely on strategic matters such as workplace discrimination of a sensitive nature, equal pay, team moves and boardroom disputes. Helen is also well-versed in dealing with industrial relations issues.

Helen has extensive experience in the application of TUPE and has advised on a variety of TUPE transfers including business acquisitions, mergers, private sector outsourcing and PPP/PFI projects within the private and public sectors.

Helen prides herself on having great commitment to excellent client service and finding innovative solutions to employment and human resources issues. She often provides tailored training sessions to meet the needs of her clients. She is a regular speaker at employment law conferences and frequently writes for leading publications on employment matters.

Prior to joining Fox Williams, Helen was a partner at a London based Top 20 firm.

Gavin Foggo

Partner

Gavin heads the litigation and dispute resolution department. He handles a broad range of UK and international business disputes, involving litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiations.

In particular, Gavin specialises financial and banking litigation, in corporate transactional and corporate governance claims (including breach of warranty, breach of directors' duties and shareholder disputes). He acts mainly in the financial services and professional services sectors, and regularly advises clients on fraud, regulatory and financial product claims, having handled a number of multi-million and billion-dollar international fraud cases. He is also well-known for resolving partnership and employment disputes.

Gavin is the Honorary Secretary of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, and a member of the Litigation Sub-Committee of the City of London Law Society. He is also the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Partnership Practitioners (APP). In addition, Gavin is a member of the Upper Tribunals (Tax and Chancery) User Group. Gavin has written numerous articles, and has been quoted many times in the national and trade press.

He is listed as a Super Lawyer for commercial litigation by Thomson Reuters (2014 edition). He is rated as a leading dispute resolution individual in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession. He is described as a "highly efficient and popular litigator" (Legal 500, 2011 edition), and a "clear, businesslike, and sensible practitioner...he is very measured and takes a tough line, but is not unreasonable." (Chambers Guide, 2011 edition).

Gavin graduated with an honours degree in law from Durham University in 1987. He completed his training with Fox Williams and qualified into the firm’s Dispute Resolution department in 1992, becoming a partner in 2001. He is a solicitor-advocate (higher courts civil).

'Gavin Foggo is "one of the very best partnership litigators." he "tries his best to reduce the heat and acrimony that is being produced, to try and get to as sensible and good an answer as you can."(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Gavin Foggo "stands out for his litigation expertise" and "knows how to handle difficult cases" (Legal 500, 2014)

'Gavin Foggo is a superb litigator, involved in partnership disputes and arbitrations… "he has a very holistic view – he always has the end goal in mind."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

'Gavin Foggo is "simply one of the best litigators in the business’ He ‘achieves excellent results".'(Legal 500, 2013)

'Praised by clients as a "sensible" lawyer who "can be a tough litigator if he needs to be."' (Chambers UK, 2013)

"He's not interested in wasting time or money, and tries to get to the crux of the matter very rapidly. He is commercial, has great judgement, and is very responsive."(Chambers UK, 2013)

Sona Ganatra

Senior Associate

Sona Ganatra is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution practice at Fox Williams, having previously been part of the Dispute Resolution and the White Collar Crime and Regulatory practice groups at White & Case LLP for 9 years.

Sona has worked primarily with large corporate and banking clients and specialises in financial services regulatory issues, disciplinary and internal investigations, and bribery and corruption offences, as well as having extensive experience of commercial litigation and international arbitration. Sona has advised upon a wide range of matters including suspected market abuse, disciplinary action taken by the AADB, foreign regulatory investigations, internal corporate and employee fraud and bribery, whistle blowing, contractual disputes and shareholder disputes.

Sona was seconded to the Enforcement Division of the Financial Services Authority in 2004. This proved to be an invaluable insight into regulatory investigations and disciplinary actions of the FSA. Sona provided advice on breaches of the UK financial services regulatory regime, appeared before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and participated in settlement discussions with financial institutions.

She has also published numerous articles and led training sessions in relation to financial services regulatory issues and obligations under the Bribery Act 2010, Fraud Act 2006 and money laundering regulations. She is a solicitor advocate (higher courts civil).

Sona graduated from Kings College, London with a degree in Law in 2000 and went on to complete her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in 2001, where she obtained a distinction and was awarded the Roger Leyland Memorial Prize. She trained at White & Case’s London office and qualified in September 2003.

Jeremy Gubbay

Business Support

Jeremy is responsible for all operational aspects of the firm including Finance, IT, HR, Risk Management and Office Services. He also works with the firm’s Partnership Board on strategic projects and overseeing their implementation.

Jeremy is a Chartered Accountant admitted in 1989 after graduating with an honours degree in Economics and Politics at the University of Manchester.

Prior to joining Fox Williams in 2009, Jeremy was the CEO of a West End law firm. His career has covered a variety of financial and general management roles both in professional services and industry. After qualifying at Arthur Andersen, Jeremy moved to Unilever Plc where he undertook various finance roles including Management Accountant, running a Treasury Dealing room, Corporate Finance and establishing and running a Derivatives Operation in the Netherlands. Jeremy’s subsequent roles have included Regional Financial Controller at PepsiCo Inc and Head of Finance at the London office of Clifford Chance LLP.

Phillip Hope

Partner

Phillip heads the real estate department. He specialises in advising individual and corporate clients on the investment, acquisition and development of real estate, with a particular focus on advising overseas clients investing in the London market. In addition, he has considerable experience in regeneration schemes for which he advises a number of government agencies and local authorities. Phillip also acts for hospitality and leisure clients in relation to acquisitions, disposals and ongoing management arrangements.

Prior to joining Fox Williams, Phillip was a partner in the real estate team at Dentons which he joined in 1998. He qualified as a solicitor in 1996.

Mary Ince

Trainee Solicitor

Mary is a trainee solicitor at Fox Williams LLP and is currently sitting in the Corporate department , having previously sat in Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Employment.

Mary graduated from the University of Exeter in 2012, with a honours degree in Law. Following this, Mary completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law school in 2013, before commencing her Training Contract with the firm in September 2013.

Daisy Jones

Associate

Daisy Jones advises on all aspects of employment law including executive service agreements, the enforceability of restrictive covenants, disciplinary and grievance issues, tribunal claims, redundancy exercises, termination packages and settlement agreements. Daisy advises both employers and senior executives and has particular experience of advising clients in the Financial Services Industry.

Daisy also has experience of advising corporate clients on the employment aspects of complex cross-border corporate transactions including sales and acquisitions, outsourcings and flotations on both the main market of the London Stock Exchange and AIM.

Before specialising in employment law, Daisy also advised corporate clients in relation to a wide range of pension matters and incentive arrangements.

Daisy undertook a history degree at Oxford University before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. Daisy trained at Ashurst LLP, where she qualified into the Employment, Incentives and Pensions Department in September 2011. Daisy joined Fox Williams as an Employment Associate in July 2014.

Duncan Jones

Associate

Duncan has worked on a wide variety of employment matters, including the drafting and negotiation of compromise agreements and employment contracts, updating employment handbooks and assisting with a number of contentious tribunal matters.

Whilst working in the Corporate department, Duncan assisted with a secondary fundraising for a Main Market listed client and worked on a number of private acquisitions. Whilst a member of the Dispute Resolution department, Duncan appeared before Masters in the High Court and was heavily involved in a wide variety of disputes, including tortious based claims, breaches of contract and a breach of a distribution agreement. Duncan also successfully negotiated settlement agreements on behalf of clients. In the time that Duncan spent in the Commerce and Technology department, he was heavily involved in a number of contentious IP matters, as well as drafting and negotiating agency and distribution agreements.

Duncan graduated from Exeter University with a 2.1 in BSc Geography before studying the GDL (commendation) and LPC (distinction) at BPP Law School in London.

Duncan is an Associate in the Commerce & Technology department having completed his two year training contract with Fox Williams in September 2012.

Duncan advises clients in relation to their intellectual property rights. Recently, he has obtained favourable settlements for a number of fashion brands against parties infringing their intellectual property rights, including:

negotiating a payment and strict undertakings in favour of an international footwear brand following the infringement of design rights in one of its most popular and well known boots;

obtaining a settlement for a well-known British clothing brand against an online retailer which was infringing its copyright and passing off the goodwill generated in a particular logo used on t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts – the successful result included the immediate withdrawal of the infringing products from sale, destruction of all unsold stock and an apology in the Financial Times; and

negotiating a favourable settlement for a renowned British casual clothing brand following design right infringement in one of its jumpers by a competing retailer.

Duncan regularly assists clients in extending their brands globally as well as protecting their brands in foreign territories by applying for international trade marks and internet domain names and opposing trade mark applications seeking to take advantage of a client’s brand.

He has helped clients to get their products on the market through entering into agency and distributor agreements or licensing their brand to a business partner in a certain territory, as well as advising clients on the termination of such agreements. Recent examples include:

negotiating a distribution agreement with a Dutch fashion brand on behalf of one of its most high profile distributors in Europe;

advising a Chilean wine producer and importer on its distribution arrangements in the UK, which involved drafting and negotiating a distribution agreement with a new distributor; and

advising a footwear brand on the effects of the termination of an agency agreement, including the calculation of indemnity payments due to the agent.

Duncan also advises on a wide range of commercial, e-commerce and contractual matters, including consultancy agreements, non-disclosure agreements, terms and conditions and privacy policies.

Duncan has written a number of practical articles on a broad range of legal issues which have appeared in a number of publications including the Financial Times, Fresh Business Thinking and Reuters.

Duncan graduated from Exeter University with a 2.1 in BSc Geography before studying the GDL (commendation) and LPC (distinction) at BPP Law School in London. He is a member of the Firm’s Fashion Law and Agent Law groups.

Eba Kamaly

Paralegal

Eba is a specialist UK Immigration Paralegal at Fox Williams. A 2007 law graduate of the University of Westminster, she has worked as an OISC-accredited corporate immigration consultant and in the employment department of a city law firm before joining the Fox Williams immigration team in March 2014. Eba has experience in advising on Points Based System and business applications for employers, business people and private individuals. She also assists with compliance and sponsor licensing related matters.

Richard Klimpke

Trainee Legal Adviser

Richard is a trainee legal adviser at Fox Williams LLP and is currently sitting in the Corporate Partnership department.

Richard graduated from Christ Church College, Oxford, in Modern Languages and then went on to study a Postgraduate degree in Law at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Richard passed the New York Bar examination last year and was formally admitted as an attorney in New York in October 2014 before commencing his Training Contract with the firm in March 2015.

Laura Lumby

Associate

Laura is an Associate in the firm’s Commerce and Technology department and a member of the firm’s agentlaw and fashion law teams.

To date, Laura has acted for various clients in relation to contentious and non-contentious matters. Laura has been involved in advising clients on their agency and distributorship agreements as well as a range of matters relating to commercial contracts, intellectual property and data protection. She has negotiated and drafted IP and software licence agreements, international trademark licences and domain name transfers, as well as drafting and advising on a variety contracts in respect of data protection, compliance with UCTA and amendments to privacy policies to ensure compliance with the cookies legislation.

Laura graduated from Bristol University in 2008 with an honours degree in Law. She then took a gap year, working for five months in a small law firm, spending six weeks in Granada, Spain learning the language, and travelling through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize.

Laura achieved a distinction on the LPC at BPP Law School in London, following which she joined Fox Williams as a trainee solicitor and qualified in September 2012

Jane Mann

Partner

Jane is Head of the Employment team at Fox Williams. She is immensely experienced and equally at home advising employers or senior employees. Clients benefit from her strong technical expertise coupled with her extensive management and business experience. Jane believes that the defining characteristic of a good employment lawyer is the ability to adapt to the particular requirements of a client’s situation. Sometimes a conciliatory approach is required sometimes a highly tactical and determined approach. A judgement has to be made in any given situation as to the best way of proceeding. Jane's employer clients (who are now largely drawn from the City) benefit from her ability to provide pragmatic and commercial solutions to difficult employment law problems. Jane also advises partners and partnerships on issues involving individual partners.

She is particularly effective at defending and pursuing employment litigation. In the past couple of years Jane acted for newly formed Vestra Wealth LLP who were sued by UBS AG when more than 70 of their employees decided to move to Vestra and she defended Chelsea Football Club when it was sued in the employment tribunal by its former director Paul Smith. In the past Jane advised Deutsche Morgan Grenfell on the departure of Nicola Horlick, Dulwich College on the departure of its headmaster Anthony Verity,John Charman on his departure from ACE Insurance and the establishment of Axis Insurance and Chelsea Football Club on proceedings brought by its former director and owner Ken Bates.

Jane is ranked as a leading individual in both the Chambers Guide to the legal profession and the Legal 500 directory. Chambers say that Jane "is very focused, thinks laterally and is a good strategist,". She is also recommended in the 2010/2011 international guide "Who's Who Legal", and Chambers Global 2011 who describe Jane as “very thoughtful with a great understanding of what the client is looking for."

In 1992, Jane co-founded the Employment Lawyers’ Association and was its first Secretary. She served on the management committee for a decade and was Chairman from 2000 to 2002, during which time she played a significant role in building up the Association to become the principal representative body for UK employment lawyers. Jane is a member of the Employment Law Sub-Committee of the City of London Law Society and a former Treasurer of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association. She is a member of the International Bar Association’s employment and discrimination committees.

Jane has been a partner at Fox Williams since 1994. Prior to that she was a partner at Denton Hall having established their employment department from scratch. She studied law at Girton College, Cambridge and trained at McKenna & Co where she gained her initial experience as an employment and immigration law specialist. During the course of her career she has advised clients in nearly every business sector.

Jane is listed as a Super Lawyer for Employment Law by Thomson Reuters (2014 edition). Jane is also recognised in the third edition of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdomfor Employment.

'Jane Mann "impresses with her ability to get to the crux of a matter" she is recommended for "complicated and high-risk matters because she has the experience to see things from a potential litigant's perspective."(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Jane Mann is listed as a leading individual.' (Legal 500, 2014)

'Market commentators hold Jane Mann in high esteem on account of the "sensible and commercial view" she typically adopts. She is perceived to have a thorough understanding of the financial services sector and is a "major name within this arena."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

Romella trained at Dechert in London and during her time there spent periods working at their offices in Philadelphia and Brussels. She qualified in October 2006 and spent over a year at Slaughter and May before joining Fox Williams in December 2007.

Jeremy McKeown

Paralegal

Jeremy graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2012 with a degree in law, having previously studied French law at the Université de Poitiers, France. He completed the BPTC at BPP (Holborn) in 2013 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn that year. Since then, he has qualified as an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator.

Özlem Mehmet

Associate

Özlem advises employers (including international companies, law firms and investment houses) and employees on a wide range of employment issues (both contentious and non-contentious), including termination packages and compromise agreements, executive service agreements, redundancy, unfair dismissal and discrimination. She has assisted a number of senior executives in negotiating and formalising the terms of their termination package with large organisations. Özlem has also spent time on secondment to a client's in-house legal department where she gained experience in working with HR professionals and defending tribunal claims brought by employees. Özlem contributes to Fox Williams' interactive employment law service, hrlaw and is involved in the City HR Association.

Özlem joined Fox Williams in September 2007 having qualified in the Pensions and Employment department at Slaughter and May in November 2006. She graduated with an honours law degree from King's College London in 2003 and completed the LPC at BPP Law School the following year.

Evie Meleagros

Associate

Evie’s dispute resolution experience includes court litigation, arbitration and mediation. Evie has acted on a wide range of commercial disputes, including: misappropriation of shares in a listed company, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract (including breach of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information) and partnership related disputes. Evie has acted for both companies and individuals and her experience covers both domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Evie is also a member of the firm’s agentlaw team and advises both agents and principals on disputes arising out of or in connection to agency agreements.

Evie graduated from Brunel University in 2006 with a first class degree in Law. Evie worked as a paralegal in a London based litigation firm before studying for the LPC at BPP Law School in 2007. Evie joined Fox Williams as a trainee in September 2008 and qualified into the dispute resolution team in September 2010.

Evie’s dispute resolution experience includes court litigation, arbitration and mediation. Evie has acted on a wide range of commercial disputes, including: misappropriation of shares in a listed company, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract (including breach of restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential information) and partnership related disputes. Evie has acted for both companies and individuals and her experience covers both domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Evie is also a member of the firm’s agentlaw team and advises both agents and principals on disputes arising out of or in connection to agency agreements.

Evie graduated from Brunel University in 2006 with a first class degree in Law. Evie worked as a paralegal in a London based litigation firm before studying for the LPC at BPP Law School in 2007. Evie joined Fox Williams as a trainee in September 2008 and qualified into the dispute resolution team in September 2010.

The clients for whom he acts include professional services firms, suppliers of technology and online services, ecommerce and FinTech companies. They range from multinational corporations to SME's, start-ups and individual entrepreneurs.

Nigel acts for many US and Israeli technology companies and professional services firms on UK and EU matters, either directly or through their local subsidiaries and he is head of the firm’s Israel desk.

Nigel is a Fellow, and past Chairman, of the UK Society for Computers & Law (www.scl.org). He is also a past President of the International Federation of Computer Law Associations (www.ifcla.org). He is a member of the US iTechLaw Association and is a regular speaker at tech and tech law conferences. He is featured in "Who’s Who Legal: Information Technology 2015".

David Murphy

Senior Associate

David guides HR, management and in-house legal teams through difficult employment situations and advises senior individuals when they join and leave their employers or face problems during their employment.

He advises on issues ranging from difficult employee relations matters, such as performance management, dismissals and exit packages through to tribunal litigation (particularly discrimination claims), restrictive covenants and the employment aspects of business re-organisations and corporate transactions.

Whilst his corporate client base has a strong focus on the financial sector he also acts for a number of other clients including professional services firms and a leading climate change company. His individual clients include fund managers, board directors, investment bankers, lawyers and some leading figures in the retail, leisure and communications sectors.

David delivers training to the CIPD and clients and has appeared on Channel 5 News on the subject of maternity-related rights. He is listed in Super Lawyers’ London Rising Stars 2014 and has featured in City AM's "Ask the Guru" column. He has written articles for the Daily Telegraph, Personnel Today, SME Web and the International Resource Journal and contributes to http://www.hrlaw.co.uk, the firm’s employment law website. As an active member of the City HR Association http://www.city-hr.co.uk, David edited and produced its best practice guide on bullying and harassment issues and co-ordinated and wrote its response to the consultation on the draft ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

After university, David spent a semester at law school in Houston and now regularly advises US clients with UK interests on their HR and employment matters. He trained with Nabarro, qualified in 2004 and joined Fox Williams in 2007.

Paul Osborne

Senior Partner

Paul was appointed senior partner at Fox Williams LLP on 1st May 2013.

Paul is a member of the Corporate department where he specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A, venture capital, private equity and joint ventures. He has a wealth of experience in these disciplines with a particular emphasis in the technology and financial services sectors. Paul is recognised as a leading individual in both Legal Experts and in Chambers Directory 2013 in Corporate / M&A Mid - Market. He brings strong and effective leadership to the firm.

The clients for whom he acts range from multi-national and quoted companies to institutional investors and family run businesses. Feedback from clients states: “Paul Osborne is well trusted and likeable. People get along with him. He is well respected and has a lot of clout.” and “He’s proved himself to be an outstanding negotiator. He is quick to appreciate the subtleties of a contractual discussion. He’s good at steering towards the outcome we wish to have.”

He has written for publications such as Financier Worldwide, Real Business and the Financial Times.

Paul graduated from the University of Warwick in 1980 with a 2:1 degree in law before being admitted as a solicitor in October 1983. In 1989, he co-founded Fox Williams after 6 years of practising in a major City law firm.

Resides Oxfordshire. Enjoys golf, running, the occasional horse race and watching his sons from the touchline.

'Paul Osborne is described by clients as being "extremely commercially astute and driven to succeed".'(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Paul Osborne is "highly sensible" and "works extremely effectively to get the job done."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

Joanne Owers

Partner

Joanne advises a diverse employer client base with clients drawn from the private and public sectors ranging from multi-nationals to SME’s on the whole range of HR and employment issues, both contentious and non-contentious. She has developed a particular expertise in defending high value and complex discrimination claims. She writes and lectures extensively on topical employment law matters, including for the CIPD, has been interviewed on Radio 4’s Law in Action and is actively involved in delivering seminars and training to clients. In addition to her role at Fox Williams LLP, Joanne is a past Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association, which has a membership of over 6,300 members in the UK and is currently an active member of its Legislative and Policy Committee.

Joanne graduated from the University of Exeter with a Masters Degree in European Law. She qualified in September 1995 having trained with Lovells. She joined Fox Williams as a newly qualified solicitor in 1997 and after moving to Baker & McKenzie and later Charles Russell (where she was a Partner from 2003), Joanne rejoined Fox Williams in April 2008 as a Partner in the Employment Department.

Jaspal Pachu

Senior Associate

Jaspal is a Senior Associate in the tax and incentives practice at Fox Williams LLP.

He has extensive experience of advising on a range of corporate tax issues, including capital markets transactions, mergers & acquisitions, corporate structuring, company reorganisations, real estate transactions and disputes with HM Revenue and Customs.

Jaspal also has significant experience in advising both employers and senior management on employee share schemes and management incentive arrangements and is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group.

Jaspal advises UK and overseas clients including listed companies, mid-tier corporates, owner managed businesses, partnerships and LLP’s and individuals in a wide range of business sectors including travel and leisure, real estate, banking, financial services, technology and digital and fashion.

Jaspal has written a number of articles on tax and has taken part in Government consultations on tax and share schemes.

After reading Law at King’s College London, Jaspal joined Herbert Smith LLP as a trainee solicitor in September 2005 before qualifying into their tax department. Jaspal joined Fox Williams in September 2010.

Tom Pennington-Hare

Associate

Tom advises both employers and senior executives on a wide range of HR and employment–related matters, including executive service agreements, disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy exercises, termination packages and settlement agreements. Tom has particular experience of advising corporate, financial and investment fund clients on the employment aspects of complex, cross-border corporate transactions, including the impact of TUPE and the implementation of secondments and transitional services arrangements. Tom also has experience of advising on management incentive arrangements.

Tom joined Fox Williams in July 2014, having trained at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, where he qualified into the Employment department in March 2012. Tom read Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2008, before completing the LPC at the College of Law in 2009.

Aron Pope

Partner

Aron Pope is a Partner in the Employment law team at Fox Williams. He advises both employers and employees and his clients range from multi-nationals to start-ups, law firms, brokers, banks and a Premier League football club.

Aron has particular experience in dealing with high-value employment and partnership disputes involving whistle-blowing, discrimination, bonuses, restrictive covenants and team moves. He helps clients with general HR issues such as disciplinary and grievance procedures and family friendly matters, and advises on the redundancy and TUPE implications of large business reorganisations and transfers.

Aron’s main sector focus areas are financial and professional services, natural resources, construction and technology. He is frequently involved in cross-border deals and disputes. Aron is experienced in advising on the employment issues facing FCA approved persons, from applying for approved person status to dealing with disciplinary issues.

Aron is the co-editor of Fox Williams’ interactive employment law service www.hrlaw.co.uk, and has had articles published in a number of leading publications including the Lawyer, the Solicitors Journal, Personnel Today and People Management. He leads workshops and gives seminars for the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), and is a regular provider of tailor-made training to clients. Aron is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association and the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

Aron graduated from the University of Leicester with an honours degree in History. He joined Fox Williams as a trainee in November 2002, qualifying into the employment team in 2004.

Douglas Preece

Partner

Douglas is a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity. He joined Fox Williams in 2000. He has acted on many transactions for clients in technology and related industries and in the fashion and merchandising industry on acquisitions, disposals and capital raising, including share purchases, business purchases and brand purchases.

He also advises on all aspects of partnership law and in particular the formation, merger, de-merger and dissolution of professional and commercial partnerships.

Douglas has attracted the following comments in the Legal 500, UK edition for his M&A and partnership law work:

Sarah Redmond

Senior Trade Mark Attorney

Sarah joined Fox Williams in September 2011 as a Trade Mark Attorney within our Commerce and Technology team. Sarah has over 16 years experience in the trade mark industry. She is involved in all aspects of trade mark protection and portfolio management which includes clearance, filing, prosecution, oppositions, invalidations, assignments and co-existence agreements. She also advises in relation to trade mark infringement and passing off and has extensive experience in the filing and prosecution of UK and Community designs.

Rebecca Richardson

Associate

Rebecca joined Fox Williams as a trainee solicitor in September 2010 and qualified into the dispute resolution team in September 2012, where she now practices as an associate.

Rebecca’s dispute resolution experience includes litigation and mediation. She has acted on a number of commercial disputes, including insolvency proceedings to recover outstanding debt, and actions for breach of restrictive covenants and wrongful termination of contract. Rebecca is also a member of Fox Williams' agentlaw team and has acted for both principals and agents in circumstances where the agency relationship has come to an end.

Rebecca read Law at the University of Kent before going on to complete the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in London. During the summer of 2009, Rebecca travelled to Beijing where she undertook a two-month internship in a Chinese law firm.

Emma Roake

Senior Associate

Emma graduated with an honours degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford University in 2000. She completed her legal exams at the College of Law, London, before joining Fox Williams in 2003 to commence her training, qualifiying with the firm in 2005.

Elizabeth Ruff

Partner

Liz advises on a broad range of commercial property transactions, both freehold and leasehold, including property management, investment acquisitions and disposals, secured lending, property finance, general landlord and tenant issues. She also provides support on real estate issues to the firm's corporate teams.

Liz's client base is diverse, ranging from private individuals and investors to pension funds, private companies, public limited companies and property investment companies. In particular, Liz is part of the Fox Williams' Fashion Law Group and has advised many clients in the fashion industry on their real estate requirements. Private individuals and investors also seek Liz's expertise in relation to high value freehold and leasehold residential property transactions.

Liz graduated from Leeds University with LLB Honours, qualifying as a solicitor and joining Hopkins and Wood in 1986. In 2003 she was appointed Special Counsel at US firm Faegre & Benson LLP from where she joined Fox Williams LLP as partner in March 2008.

'Liz Ruff is "technically awesome and great fun to work with"(Chambers UK, 2015)

Nick Sayers

Partner

Nick is a partner in our Corporate department and has a broad corporate finance practice, with extensive experience in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and fundraisings, particularly listings on AIM. Over the years, Nick has acted on corporate finance transactions which have typically been in the £2 million to £200 million deal size range, although a number have been substantially larger. A significant part of Nick’s practice involves acting for international clients, particularly from the US and the far east.

Prior to joining Fox Williams in October 2008, Nick was a partner at Lane & Partners for over ten years. Nick graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford University and qualified as a solicitor in 1986.

Nick is a member of the IBA (International Bar Association), QCA (The Quoted Company Alliance) and EVCA (European, Private Equity & Venture Capital Association) and is a regular speaker at seminars and conferences.

Jonathan Segal

Partner

Jonathan is a partner in our Corporate and Technology teams who specialises in FinTech and Alternative Finance, dedicating 100% of his time to helping clients in London’s burgeoning FinTech and Alternative Finance scene.

Jonathan advises clients across the FinTech spectrum, from start-ups disrupting existing markets with innovative technology to financial institutions looking to invest in new technology. He has particular expertise in peer-to-peer and crowdfunding platforms, drawing on his extensive experience in the banking and finance sector gained both in-house at major financial institutions and in private practice. His experience spans a variety of financial products, including loans (both corporate and consumer), real estate and development finance, asset-based lending, receivables financing, asset finance, trade finance, capital markets, derivatives and repos. He also has extensive experience in the debt financing of technology companies.

A regular speaker at industry events both at home and abroad, Jonathan is also heavily involved in next generation disruptive financial products such as virtual currencies (including Bitcoin), blockchain technology and the use of Big Data in financial predictive analytics and disruptive insurance models.

Jonathan graduated with an LLB in Law from the University of London in 2000. He trained at CMS Cameron McKenna where he subsequently remained as an associate upon qualification in 2004. Prior to joining Fox Williams, Jonathan has also gained experience as an in-house lawyer with Barclays Bank plc and Citco Financial Products and was most recently Head of FinTech at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co.

Chitra Selby

Business Support

Chitra is a solicitor and Consultant at Fox Williams, having joined the firm in September 2009.

Chitra has over a decade of commercial experience having first trained at a City firm qualifying in 1998. She subsequently pursued a career "in house" that culminated with her appointment as Senior Legal Counsel at a $20 billion multinational.

In 2005, Chitra returned to private practice to co-found a "boutique" City practice, where she was Managing Partner until 2008.

Chitra is excited at the prospect of working with the Fox Williams team to help develop the firm's business.

Hannah Sensecall

Associate

Hannah is an associate in the Corporate Department and has experience advising on a range of transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments and corporate reorganisations. Hannah also has experience advising on a variety of other corporate law matters including joint ventures, shareholder arrangements, corporate finance and AIM fundraisings. Hannah advises a variety of clients from start-ups to multinationals.

Hannah graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 and gained a distinction in her Legal Practice Course. Hannah completed her training contract at a specialist corporate and technology law firm based near Oxford, qualifying into the corporate team in January 2014. Hannah joined Fox Williams in September 2014.

Stephen Sidkin

Partner

Stephen is a founder partner of Fox Williams specialising in commercial agreements, intellectual property licensing and franchise law. He is focused on creating value for clients by helping them achieve their business objectives.

Stephen established and leads Fox Williams' agentlaw team and developed www.agentlaw.co.uk, a Fox Williams website dedicated to agency and distribution law. He is head of the Commerce & Technology Department of Fox Williams.

Stephen is involved in advising many of Fox Willams' fashion clients on their agency, supply, franchising, and licensing arrangements. Stephen drove forward the creation of www.fashionlaw.co.uk and now chairs the Fashion Law Group. He was a member of the team which advised the Superdry brand owner, SuperGroup Plc, in connection with its institutional and retail share offerings which resulted in SuperGroup listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Stephen has written and spoken widely on agency and distribution agreements, in particular, and commercial law issues, in general. The last few months have seen articles written by Stephen published in Drapers and Cabinet Maker among other trade publications. He is the UK author of International Agency and Distribution Agreements published by LexisNexis and was co-author of the UK chapter of Kluwer's Commercial Agency and Distributorship Agreements (3rd edition). He is also the UK contributing author to Handbuch Moderecht (Fashion Law Handbook) (2011).

A specialist area of Stephen's franchising practice concerns the international franchise, license and co-operation arrangements of a number of leading independent schools including North London Collegiate School and Wellington College. Advice has been given by Stephen and his team in respect of schools in China, India, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and West Africa. Stephen chairs the Fox Williams International Schools Group.

He is a regular commentator on radio and television where his appearances include Watchdog (going head to head with Anne Robinson) and BBC Radios 4 and 5. He has also appeared on many programmes made by Legal Television Network. In addition he keeps in touch with King's College, London from where he graduated with an honours degree in Law before obtaining his Masters in Business Law.

Stephen has served for many years on the Commercial Law Committee of the City of London Law Society. He was its Chairman from 1995 to 1999 and is currently again its Deputy Chairman. In addition, between 2007 - 2012 he was President of the Contract Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA). At recent Congresses he spoke on the topics of

protecting brands an the law of distribution contracts;

pre-contract negotiations; and

intellectual property licensing agreements.

In 2012 he became Co-Director of Communications of the UIA.

During New York Fashion Week in February 2013 Stephen chaired the UIA Fashion law seminar and spoke on the subject of taking back exclusive distribution rights from distributors.

Prior to joining the UIA he was a long standing member of Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats and spoke at many of its congresses.

Over the years clients and partners have given Stephen the nicknames of "The Barracuda" and "The Rottweiler". But out of the office his wife, Lynne, and son, Sam, regard him as a pussy cat. With their assistance he loves nothing more than to mess around on boats, whether on river, lake or sea. His greatest maritime adventure to date was to skipper a 4m open boat down the Grand Canal of Venice and into the Bacino di San Marco When restricted to dry land he collects political cartoons, is an avid student of brand marketing, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

'Stephen Sidkin is praised by clients as being "very hot on the detail" and "the best lawyer I've used for this type of work. His level of knowledge always impresses me."'(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Stephen Sidkin is a recognised "expert" on agency contracts and the Commercial Agent Regulations. He also handles supply, licensing and franchising agreements. Clients say he is "extremely knowledgeable, very experienced and has a great depth of understanding in this area of law."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

Dorotea Sikorska

Trainee Solicitor

Dorotea is a trainee solicitor at Fox Williams LLP and is currently sitting in the Real Estate department, having previously sat in Employment.

Dorotea graduated from the University of East Anglia with an honours degree in Law. Following this, Dorotea worked as a paralegal with various London law firms before commencing her Training Contract with the firm in September 2014.

Simon has extensive experience in advising on the acquisition and disposal of investment property, including portfolios, and also advises a number of well known corporate occupiers and retailers on real estate matters in the UK. Recent transactions include acquiring several substantial investment properties for private and off shore investors, dealing with lease transactions in the City of London for two major companies in the insurance sector, and managing a large portfolio of central London properties for an offshore client.

Prior to joining Fox Williams, Simon headed the property practice of the London office of Faegre & Benson LLP, formerly Hobson Audley for 10 years. He graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in History/Politics and was admitted as a solicitor in 1980

"Whenever we have a question we call him and it's great, no problems at all. He is very dependable and we never have any issues with any advice he gives us"(Chambers UK, 2015)

Daniel Sutherland

Partner

Daniel specialises in advising businesses in the professional services and technology sectors, with a focus on the formation and running of limited liability partnerships, commercial and technology contracts and mergers and acquisitions. He is a member of Fox Williams' highly regarded partnership law and ebusiness groups.

Daniel has advised on several cross-border partnership matters and has particular expertise in providing legal and regulatory advice to foreign law firms which either have an English branch or are seeking to establish one.

Daniel has written for numerous business publications in connection with partnership and technology matters and is an active member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

"I can't speak highly enough of him. He's a detailed guy, strategic in how he thinks about things, and has energy but a sense of calm about him."(Chambers UK, 2015)

Daniel was noted as "Up and Coming".(Chambers UK, 2015)

Daniel was noted as an "Associate to watch". (Chambers UK, 2014)

'Daniel is described as "experienced beyond his years."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

Howard Taylor

Senior Associate

Howard is a corporate lawyer specialising in the sale and purchase of companies and businesses, joint ventures, investments in private companies, management buy outs and listings and fundraisings on AiM. Howard also advises on a wide variety of other corporate law matters, including company reorganisations and refinancings, repurchases of shares and reductions of share capital, shareholder agreements and lending and security documentation. He works with both domestic and international clients across a range of business sectors.

Howard obtained a LL.B honours degree in 1994 from King’s College, London and was called to the Bar in 1995. He subsequently re-qualified as a solicitor in 1998. Howard trained at Lane & Partners, where he spent 10 years before joining Fox Williams in October 2008. He was admitted as a solicitor in 2000.

Josie Taylor

Senior Associate

Josie advises employers and senior executives on the full range of employment and HR related matters, including termination negotiations and compromise agreements, executive service agreements and disciplinary and grievance procedures. She has experience advising large corporate bodies in relation to the strategy and legal aspects of collective consultation obligations arising from both redundancy exercises and proposals to dismiss and re-engage as a means to achieve contractual change.

As part of the Fox Williams immigration team, Josie also advises clients in relation to immigration issues, with a particular focus on employer compliance obligations and the interface with employment law. Josie provides client training around these areas, as well as advising on and drafting policies and procedures.

Josie's experience also includes Employment Tribunal litigation and she has been involved in Employment Tribunal litigation on a broad range of issues including whistleblowing, discrimination, unfair dismissal and TUPE.

Josie is experienced in advising large commercial bodies on the employment aspects of outsourcing arrangements. This includes advising on the employment implications of the commercial strategy, drafting the TUPE provisions and negotiating the agreements to close.

Josie undertook a law degree at the University of Warwick and graduated with an honors degree before completing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law. Josie trained at Pinsent Masons LLP where she qualified into the Employment Department in September 2005, before joining Fox Williams as an Associate May 2013.

Paul Taylor

Partner

As well as advising on a range of corporate issues such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity, Paul has specialist banking and insolvency expertise.

Paul graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of Hull in 1988. He then completed his Law Society finals at Chester Law School. Paul was articled at Lovells (including secondments to Esso and Clayton Utz in Australia).

After 14 years with Hobson Audley (latterly Faegre & Benson), he joined Fox Williams LLP as a partner in 2008. His clients include AIM listed companies, partnerships, licensed insolvency practitioners and property investors.

He has recently set up and leads Fox Williams’ Start-Up practice group.

Representative transactions include:

Banking

Negotiating trade finance facilities for SuperGroup from HSBC as part of SuperGroup's full market list

Negotiating £130m facility from Barclays Bank and £14m facility from Lloyds Bank for Greenergy International Limited

M&A

Acquisition and disposal of a £130m property portfolio

Sale of three separate IT training/networking companies to the National Computing Centre (Impact, CIO Connect and PMP)

Representing Tikit plc (AIM listed) on its acquisition of various UK and international companies

Advising the management of Apollo Lifts on a secondary management buy out

Insolvency

Advising on the pre-pack acquisition of the business of Washington Green Art galleries

Paula Volkmer

Associate

Paula advises both employers and senior executives on a wide range of HR and employment–related matters, including executive service agreements, disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy exercises, termination packages and compromise agreements. In particular Paula regularly advises a number of law firms on the employer side as well as individuals who work in the Financial Services industry.

Paula is particularly interested in Tribunal litigation and has been involved on both the employer and claimant side in disputes relating to unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, unlawful deduction from wages, tronc issues, TUPE, flexible working, discrimination and/or harassment on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, and disability.

Paula's experience also includes advising companies on the employment aspects of corporate transactions. She has also advised employers on a range of benefits issues including drafting bespoke bonus and retention arrangements.

Paula undertook a law degree at University College London and graduated with an honours degree before completing the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. Paula trained at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she qualified into the Employment, Pensions and Benefits Department in March 2009, before joining Fox Williams as an Employment Associate in May 2011.

Mark Watson

Partner

Mark is a partner in the Employment Department and specialises in employment law. He advises on all aspects of employment law, including defending tribunal claims, the employment aspects of acquisitions and sales, redundancies, restrictive covenants and difficult problems relating to TUPE and outsourcing. He has wide experience acting for senior executives as well as advising employers on complex board issues and shareholder disputes, and his extensive business experience at a senior level enables Mark to assist clients in finding pragmatic solutions to strategic boardroom issues. He acts for many US companies on employment matters, either directly or through their UK subsidiaries.

Mark is a Past President of the Labour Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats and the current President of the UK National Committee of that organisation.

Sean Williams

Senior Associate

Sean deals with a wide range of corporate and commercial matters for both public and private companies. Particular areas of specialisation include mergers and acquisitions, company start-ups and joint ventures, corporate finance, employment related corporate matters, and a broad range of commercial contracts.

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with an honours degree in law and subsequently spent a year at law school in Chester, three years at Allen & Overy, during which time he established their highly successful banking information unit and assisted in the introduction of the University of Banking, an award winning training course.

Sean then moved on to train at Rosling King where he qualified into the company/commercial department in September 1998. After two further years at Rosling King, including a promotion to senior associate, Sean left to join Fox Williams. He spent four years in the corporate department where he became a senior associate in May 2004. Sean went on to work at Fortune Law, a firm specialising in public company work, in April 2005. He returned to Fox Williams as a senior associate in July 2006.

"Sean Williams at Fox Williams has been, on more than one occasion, an invaluable support to the business. His pragmatic, sensitive and commercial advice has been instrumental in protecting the business and providing it with a platform to grow. His speed of execution and strategic thinking has enabled us to make quick and effective decisions during periods of real uncertainty. I would highly recommend him."Ben Stones Managing DirectorOptima

Tina has broadcast on radio on the setting up of new businesses and has written and spoken publicly on issues affecting the legal profession. She was a long-standing member of the Company Law Sub-Committee of the City of London Law Society and member of the committee of the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

Tina graduated from the University of Oxford with a masters degree in modern languages and was admitted as a solicitor three years later. In 1989, she co-founded Fox Williams.

Tina was Senior Partner at Fox Williams from May 2005 to May 2013. Tina became Chair of the firm in May 2013, with a special focus on international business.

Tina is a "Star Individual"(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Tina Williams is an outstanding partnership lawyer and a client states: "We have every confidence in her judgement and legal ability. We go to her as our first port of call."(Chambers UK, 2015)

'Tina Williams is lauded as "hugely experienced, thoughtful, and highly conscientious on both contentious and transactional matters"'.(Legal 500, 2014)'The "phenomenal" Tina Williams has an outstanding reputation for non-contentious partnership matters, and earns exceptional praise for her talents on the structuring side. Sources say: "Clients get confidence from the fact they can trust her judgement. She's very measured." Williams' partnership agreements are esteemed as "velvet handcuffs: very easy to put on, impossible to get out of."'(Chambers UK, 2014)

'Tina Williams is "undoubtedly and deservedly at the top of the tree for non-contentious matters", and also has "huge ability on the contentious side".'(Legal 500, 2013)

Andrew Woolf

Partner

Andrew is a partner in our corporate department. He advises clients on public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, flotations and off market fundraisings (private equity, venture capital and high net worth investment). With previous experience as an in-house lawyer and as a corporate financier Andrew has a commercial approach to advising clients and looks to provide added value to clients by leveraging his and the firm’s extensive network of relationships.

Andrew advises a broad spectrum of clients in a number of sectors but has a particular interest in the financial services and technology sectors and with businesses investing in Africa.

Prior to joining Fox Williams, Andrew was Head of the corporate team at the London office of Irwin Mitchell which he joined in 2008. Andrew graduated with an honours degree in History from the University of Southampton and subsequently earned his LLB from the University of Cambridge. Andrew obtained a First in his Law Society Finals and qualified as a solicitor in 1994.

Kirsty Wright

Trainee Solicitor

Kirsty is a trainee solicitor at Fox Williams LLP and is currently sitting in the Employment department, having previously sat in Corporate, Commercial and Technology and Dispute Resolution.

Kirsty graduated in 2009 with an upper-second class honours degree in Law from The University of Surrey before qualifying from the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law, Guildford with a distinction in 2012. She then joined Practical Law (Thomson Reuters) as a Legislation Editor before joining Fox Williams in September 2013.

Peter Wright

Partner

Peter is a litigation partner specialising in Financial Services regulatory issues and is a leading member of the firm’s financial services group, He graduated with an honours degree in law from the University of Bristol in 1997 and then trained with London firm Russell Jones & Walker, where he qualified and specialised in commercial litigation.

Having qualified in private practice, Peter was recruited by the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) Enforcement Division’s Legal Group, where he was quickly appointed to the position of senior lawyer advising on various high-profile matters arising out of the financial crisis, including the published action taken against individual directors of Northern Rock.

Peter has substantial experience in conducting disciplinary cases before the FSA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and before the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber). He has also acted as an FSA prosecutor and helped the regulator secure one of its earliest convictions and a custodial sentence for an unauthorised stockbroker acting in breach of the Financial Services and Markets Act. He also has higher rights of audience (civil) as an advocate which he has exercised in a number of insolvency cases for the regulator.

Department head Peter Wright is widely consulted for his expertise on regulatory issues. He has commented in the Financial Times, New Model Adviser, FT Adviser, Bloomberg Law and a number of other leading media organisations. He has also been consulted as an expert and delivered lectures on regulatory issues to various professional networks including the UK Fraud Lawyers Association.

An experienced litigator in the High Court, Peter often obtains emergency orders in relation to various forms of investment fraud, both in a domestic and international context in relation to share frauds, illegal deposit taking schemes and other activities. He also conducts litigation matters in corporate and commercial, civil fraud, insolvency litigation and disciplinary cases, including sports disciplinary work.

Peter has been listed in Financial News' top 40 under 40 rising stars in legal services, 2014, a list comprising some of the brightest and most talented young lawyers who have “helped drive the development of Europe’s financial legal industry”.

Peter is also recognised as a leading regulatory practitioner in the major legal directories. Recent directory comments include:

Peter Wright is "without question , anyone's obvious choice for any FCA enforcement litigation. He's one of the best forensic lawyers in that field. He is extremely good tactically and has a very good reputation within the regulators."(Chambers UK, 2015)

Peter Wright is ‘one of the leading experts in financial services law and litigation'. (Legal 500, 2014)

'Department head Peter Wright "understands the FSA inside out and has got good judgement" according to sources. He is widely admired for his expertise on both contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters.'(Chambers UK, 2014)

'Peter Wright is "a leading expert on financial services litigation and insolvency work, given his background as one the FSA Enforcement Division’s leading lawyers in these areas".'(Legal 500 UK, 2013)

'Fox Williams LLP’s regulatory practice is headed by new arrival Peter Wright, a former member of the FSA’s enforcement division’s legal group; he brings "a wealth of experience". The team recently acted in a multi-party FSA enforcement investigation'(Legal 500 UK, 2012)